NDLEA Arrests Nigerian-British Grandmother With 13kg Cocaine Hidden in Plantain Peels, Busts Malaysia Drug Syndicate

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in plantain peels to the United Kingdom.

The suspect, Mary Yetunde Barek, who reportedly works as a caregiver in the UK, was intercepted at the departure hall while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

According to the NDLEA, a thorough search of her luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble plantain hands, with a combined weight of 13 kilograms.

The agency said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit drug during interrogation.

In a related operation, NDLEA dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate attempting to smuggle cocaine to Malaysia, leading to the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, identified as the alleged mastermind of the network.

The agency said operatives intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms, concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.

Investigations initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos: Alalade Azeez, Ndem Kelechi, a trader at ASPANDA Market in the Trade Fair Complex, cargo agent Okeke Chimezie, and later Igwilo Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs.

Further intelligence operations eventually tracked Onyeka to his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he was arrested as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate.

In another operation in Taraba State, NDLEA officers arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam–Wukari road after allegedly discovering more than 40,000 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks while transporting the consignment from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The agency also recorded several other arrests across the country.

In Kaduna State, operatives arrested Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area, where they were allegedly found in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Similarly, in Ebonyi State, a 65-year-old suspect, Francis Eja, was arrested with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, in Ikwo Local Government Area.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested 75-year-old Alhaji Babani, who was allegedly found in possession of 15 kilograms of skunk.

The agency said the arrests underscore its ongoing nationwide campaign against drug trafficking and the activities of criminal networks involved in the illicit drug trade.